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The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) oversees all public school districts and a host of other public educational institutions in the state. Its mission to “ensure that every learner has access to a world-class education system that academically prepares children and adults to succeed as productive citizens” is clearly expressed.
In keeping with its stated mission, the 2000 revision of Act 48 of 1999 requires all educators who practice in Pennsylvania and hold public school certification to participate in ongoing, professional education. Teachers are required to complete six credits of collegiate study or six credits of PDE-approved continuing professional development courses every five years in order to maintain their certification.
It makes sense that any organization that strives to approach the lofty goal of ensuring a “world-class education” would not only require excellent teacher preparation prior to certification, but also require ongoing excellence in professional development and continuing education.
Many institutions of higher education offer courses to help teachers meet these important requirements. These professional development courses are available in specific content areas in a variety of formats, including classroom, online and hybrid.
Misericordia University recently launched its Professional Development On-Demand program, which offers a wide variety of relevant and meaningful two- and three-credit courses in flexible, fully online and open enrollment formats. The program complements our traditional ARCH Professional Development program that allows Misericordia to collaborate with regional districts to identify and meet current needs of local educators and state-certified instructional support staff.
The three-credit courses in the ARCH Professional Development program are created and taught by experienced education professionals from local school districts and are offered on campus and on site in a variety of formats, including face-to-face, hybrid and online. Both programs provide very affordable tuition rates structured to meet the reimbursement levels of most school districts, along with a tuition deferment plan and third-party billing options for partner districts.
College Misericordia welcomed its first class of teachers in 1924, when the founding Sisters of Mercy traveled from Dublin, Ireland, to deliver the mission and expand the influence of the Religious Sisters in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Misericordia University continues that proud tradition by providing practical and high-quality teacher professional development programs that ensure Pennsylvania teachers are confidently prepared to meet the diverse and evolving needs of today’s learners.
Our mission, just like PDE’s mission, demands that we prepare all of our students, in all programs “to succeed.”
